The Longitudinal Evaluation of a 30-Day Physical Activity Intervention Program for Women on Impulsivity, Weight Loss, and Subjective Well-Being

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Introduction Research suggests a connection between obesity and impulsivity, such that an increase in impulsivity causes persons with obesity to make poor food choices and adversely affect their subjective well-being. Exercise has been proposed as treatment option for impulsivity. Methods: Fifty-four women (71.4% white) were recruited via social media and flyers from Nassau County, Long Island, NY to participate in a weight loss study. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups and either exercised for 30-days (exercise intervention) or partook in weekly hour-long health seminars (active control group). Participants completed survey measures including Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11 (BIS-11), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), as well as were administered the Stroop Color and Word Test both at the beginning and the conclusion of the study. Results: There was a significant effect of group on both BIS-11 F (1, 51) = 39.53,p < .001 and Stroop Color Word F(1, 51) = 30.69,p < .001 scores after controlling for initial BIS-11 and Stroop Interference scores. For weight, when either Stroop Interference scores or BIS-11 scores were included in the model, a significant two-way Time x Condition interaction F(1, 54) = 103.42,p < .001, F(1, 52) = 43.16, p < .001, qualified a significant main effect of Time F(1, 54) = 159.78, p < .001, F(1, 52) = 118.00,p < .001. For subjective well-being, when either Stroop Interferene scores or BIS-11 scores were included in the model, a significant two-way Time x Condition interaction F(1, 62) = 43.19, p < .001, F(1, 68) = 41.16, p < .05, qualified a significant main effect of Time F(1, 68) = 80.49, p < .001, F(1, 87) = 63.14,p < .001. For subjective well-being, when change in BIS-11 scores were included in the model, a significant three-way Condition x Time x Change in BIS-11 scores interaction F(1, 51) = 5.79, p < .05, was qualified by a two-way Condition x Time interaction F(1, 51) = 46.46, p < .001, which was qualified by a main effect of Time F(1, 51) = 121.59,p < .001. There was no significant relationship between change in impulsivity (measured either subjectively or objectively) and weight lost. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that exercise may provide another mechanism of treatment of impulsivity and that impulsivity can be an important area of assessment for clinicians treating participants with obesity.